Thailand Live Thursday 3 Nov 2011

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BTS Green Line extension's opening may be postponed

Flood disaster might cause the BTS Green Line extension (Wong Wian Yai-Bang Wa) opening to be postponed.

Amorn Kitchawengkul, Managing Director of Krungthep Thanakom Co Ltd, a subsidiary of the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration, said Thursday that the 5.3km BTS Green Line extension construction contractor had suspended their works for three days now at the Phonimit Station (S9) where foundation pillars were set up.

This was because the construction materials were flood-affected such as cement in Pathum Thani and sand from Ratchaburi, while the entrance to the living quarters of their 1,000 workers on Buddhamonthon 1 and Buddhamonthon 2 roads were flooded, prompting them to evacuate to Chanthaburi.

-- The Nation 2011-11-03

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Bank of Thailand reports that 528 bank branches are now closed because of flooding, increase of 46 from yday; 4,689 ATMs shut down /TANN

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Safari World closes tomorrow as flooding at entrance high and some parts of safari park flooded at 1m; animals moved to higher ground /TANN

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Nonthaburi governor orders hunting of green mamba snakes

Nonthaburi Governor Wichien Phutthiwinyu Thursday assigned a team to hunt for the 15 green mamba snakes, the fatally venomous snakes that went on loose from a flooded home in Pakkred district.

Saying that it wasn’t confirmed if one of the snakes has already been captured, Wichien urged people who saw the long yellowish green snakes not to try to capture or kill the snakes themselves because the serum for their venom weren’t available in Thailand.

He urged the people to call the hotline 1131 or 1363 for officials to dispatch well-equipped experts to capture them.

Earlier in the day, a widely-circulated tweet said a green mamba was found on Soi Kosumruamjai.

-- The Nation 2011-11-03

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American Fanelli sentenced to 10 years for Phuket bar girl murder

Phuket expat Ronald Fanelli was sentenced to 10 years in prison for murdering bar girl Wanphen Pienjai and stuffing her body into a suitcase.

Murder victim Wanphen Pienjai had a young daughter at the time of her murder.

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SET index closed at 957.56, down 8.24; Bt/USD30.70; GBP48.81; AUD31.38; EUR42.06; CAD30.01; HKD3.95; SGD23.89; JPY39.11

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AFP: Flood victims chide Thai PM over lack of aid

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4:56pm Field for giraffes submerged. The giraffe been evacuated to higher ground http://lockerz.com/s/152838403 ~ @Voice_TV

5:08pm Safari World will be closed for 7 days because 50% of its area submerged http://bit.ly/s3rwY4 ~ @Voice_TV

5:05pm The entrance onto Chalermprakiat temple in Nonthaburi flooded over 50cm http://yfrog.com/obcf2myj ~ @js100radio

4:53pm Water creeping out from drainages at the entrance of Soi Ladprao 16 http://lockerz.com/s/152837481 ~ @JFiZ

4:51pm Photo of water on Ngamwongwan near Gate1 of KU. Kaset tunnel still dry http://twitpic.com/7a9axz ~ @onio_o

4:46pm Water level in front of Animal Hospital, Phahonyothin outbound [see photo] http://twitpic.com/7a97w6 ~ @onio_o

4:44pm Ratchadapisek in/outbound in front of SCB Park flooded by footpath deep. Cars still passable ~ @fm91trafficpro

4:39pm Teenagers using submerged Bangkhen tunnel as a swimming pool http://twitpic.com/7a95y1 ~ @onio_o

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Vehicles from, to the North on Asia Highway must share only one side of the road due to flood: Ayutthaya superintendent. /Via @Tete_for_all /via@Aim_NT

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Floodwater reaches Samiannaree Temple

Floodwater has already reached the Samiannaree Temple on the Vibhavadi Rangsit Road.

Facing the rising floodwater, the Major Ratchayothin Complex at the Ratchayothin Intersection has decided to suspend its services indefinitely.

In front of Siam Commercial Bank headquarters on the Ratchadaphisek Road, floodwater was nearly knee-deep.

-- The Nation 2011-11-03

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Agriculture Minister Thira: 1,200 water pumps needed to drain water out from western BKK into Tachine River /TANN

Thai Airways allows change in tickets issued before Oct 28 with travel date before Dec 15 to be postponed until Dec 31 free of charge /TANN

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Thousands Remain Stranded by Floods

Despite some improvement in overall flood situation in many provinces, thousands of residents cannot return home yet.

A runoff from Bang Kaew Canal and Tha Chine River gushed into Ban Koh community in Nakhon Chaisi Subdistrict in Nakhon Pathom Province last night, forcing more than 100 families to evacuate their homes and sought temporary shelter on Buddha Monthon 8 roadside.

Residents recalled that the water was rising so quickly and there was not enough time to move their belongings, including cars trapped inside.

The distressed villagers said no agencies have yet offered help while calling on the government and the province to undertake more clear preparedness measures against floods, such as giving advance warnings to people living in high-risk areas.

In the meantime, communities in the outskirts of Nakhon Sawan municipality are still reeling under inundation due to a runoff from the Chao Phraya River.

They include Decha Pattana community, Thewada Sang community, Wat Khao Chom Khiri Nak Prot community and the eastern Nakhon Sawan municipality.

Residents have taken shelter in roadside tents since September 12 and cannot return home yet.

Farmers in Ban Krang Subdistrict in Phitsanulok's Muang District rushed to harvest their rice following a continuous decline of floodwater.

The rice farmers said despite over two months of floods, their crops could grow, then became very fertile and produced grains.

Flooding in the areas was caused by runoffs from Sukhothai Province.

In Ang Thong Province, floodwater has been continuously falling. Residents in some areas began to clean up their homes and moved their properties.

Despite declining floodwater, residents in Chaiyo, Pho Thong and Muang districts cannot return home as the water is still as high as one to 2.5 meters.

The Pasak Chonlasit Dam in Lopburi Province has reduced the amount of water being released from the dam to 5.2 million cubic meters per day to prevent further inundation in Bangkok and its vicinity.

The dam's officials assured that the dam remains strong.

-- Tan Network 2011-11-03

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Imported anti-venom serum for Green Mamba snakebites arriving Friday

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Bang Chan Industrial Estate flood risk lessens

Flood risk against the Bang Chan Industrial Estate in eastern Bangkok has reduced after the water gates of Klong 8, Klong 9 and Klong 10 canals in Pathum Thani were closed Thursday, according to Bangkok Governor MR Sukhumbhand Paribatra.

Local people in Pathum Thani, however, are protesting against the closing of Klong 9 Canal's water gate. They have demanded that the Flood Relief Operation Centre (FROC) open the water gate immediately.

-- The Nation 2011-11-03

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700,000 housing units flooded

The Nation

Up to 700,000 residential units in Bangkok and suburbs have been flooded, against 400,000 last week, according to the Real Estate Information Centre (REIC).

Of total, about 100,000 units are under construction and have not yet been transferred to buyers.

According to the REIC, property transactions this year will drop by 10-20 per cent from last year and the number of newly-registered units in Greater Bangkok will fall by 15-25 per cent to 80,000-90,000 units this year. Last year’s registered units reached 107,000 units.

The number of low-rise units, including detached, twin and townhouses, will drop by 7-16 per cent from 54,000 units last year to 45,000-50,000 units by the end of this year. New condominium projects launched in Bangkok and the suburbs this year will also drop 24-31 per cent from 66,000 units last year to 45,000-50,000 units.

-- The Nation 2011-11-03

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TOURISM

Normal service at THAI

The Nation

Thai Airways International Plc confirms that THAI still operates regular flights in/out of Suvarnabhumi Airport and continues to open THAI ticket and reservation offices, despite aggravated flooding in Bangkok.

THAI President Piyasvasti Amranand said that although some outer areas of Bangkok are currently affected by floods, major parts throughout Thailand, covered by domestic network, are not affected including Phuket, Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Samui, Krabi.

"If you have been planning to visit Thailand, you should still continue with your plans and visit the many wonderful places which are unaffected by the flood. Thailand welcomes all of you", added Amranand.

Today, its check-in services at Airport Rail Link, Makkasan Station, start for all THAI flights departing Suvarnabhumi Airport between 10am-1.20am. Passengers must check-in by themselves 3 hours prior to flight departure and receive their boarding pass and luggage tags. Passengers traveling to Los Angeles must check-in at Suvarnabhumi Airport only.

All THAI tickets including redemption tickets issued on THAI's website (www.thaiairways.com) or by ticketing offices and travel agents issued Worldwide (except Greece) issuing date on or before November 30 with travel period during October 1 - December 15 reservation can be changed with no additional fees.

THAI is now operating with bigger aircraft in response to greater demand for travelling to major cities such as Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Khon Kaen, Phuket, Ubon Ratchathani and Udon Thani.

The airline also announced that its booth at London’s World Travel Market (WTM) this year will be bigger, to show the world of awards and plans to further enhance customer satisfaction.

WTM is one of the world’s largest travel exhibitions and this will be the first time in four years that THAI will host its own booth. Between November 7-10, THAI will join more than 5,000 exhibitors from over 189 countries and regions worldwide that will gather at the ExCel Centre. This is one of the most important global industry gatherings providing a host of enlightening talks and events highlighting industry innovation and providing cutting-edge insight into where the aviation and tourism industries are heading.

THAI together with the Team Thailand, including Royal Thai Embassy, Tourism Authority of Thailand and representatives of Thailand's travel agents and hotel operators in the tourism industry, will take its presence at World Travel Market 2011 to assure travel to Thailand and inform passengers that Suvarnabhumi Airport is not affected by the current flooding situation and THAI still operates normal flight schedule at Suvarnabhumi Airport.

-- The Nation 2011-11-03

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Bangkok Ignored Warnings

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Flood expert Dr. Seree on @ThaiPBS speculates that flood waters on Vipavadee Rangsit to reach Lad Prao Intersection tonight/TAN_Network

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700,000 housing units flooded

The Nation

Up to 700,000 residential units in Bangkok and suburbs have been flooded, against 400,000 last week, according to the Real Estate Information Centre (REIC).

Of total, about 100,000 units are under construction and have not yet been transferred to buyers.

According to the REIC, property transactions this year will drop by 10-20 per cent from last year and the number of newly-registered units in Greater Bangkok will fall by 15-25 per cent to 80,000-90,000 units this year. Last year’s registered units reached 107,000 units.

The number of low-rise units, including detached, twin and townhouses, will drop by 7-16 per cent from 54,000 units last year to 45,000-50,000 units by the end of this year. New condominium projects launched in Bangkok and the suburbs this year will also drop 24-31 per cent from 66,000 units last year to 45,000-50,000 units.

-- The Nation 2011-11-03

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MRT Chatuchak station exit 1, 3, 4 and disabled ppl lift are now closed. (7.29pm) RT @Pat_ThaiPBS twitpic.com/7abccv/via@veen_NT

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For Thonburi, Dr Seri says Rama 2 is next -- 2-3 days. Chula's Dr Sombat (home: Taling Chan) says nobody thought area could be hit so hard/via@terryfrd

Heard the first mention of Din Daeng tonight as possibly being on the hit list after 5-way Lard Prao interestion./via@terryfrd

Nakorn Prathom governor, speaking from dry central district, says likely to stay that way coz elevation comfortably above flood level/via@terryfrd

Dr Seri remains skeptical that big bag dyke will help the situation at Vibhavadi Rangsit/Paholyothin much although he wished builders luck./via@terryfrd

On the positive side, water levels at the northern edge of the city are not rising. Actually falling a little.[/b]/via@terryfrd

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Budget heavy on populist spending, light on flood rehabilitation: Jurin

The opposition plans to attack the government's 2012 Budget Bill as focusing too much on populist programmes, while scrutinising the projected Bt900 billion in extra loans will be difficult as they are off-budget, opposition chief whip Jurin Laksanawisit said Thursday.

The opposition is also concerned that of the Bt120 billion in central budget funds to be allocated to flood-related problems, Bt80 billionBt100 billion was to go towards flood-victim compensation, while only Bt20 billionBt30 billion would be saved for the rehabilitation work, Jurin said.

-- The Nation 2011-11-03

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2,396 schools affected by flood, damage estimated at 1,585 million baht: Ministry of Education TR @nnanews/via@tonravee

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9.15pm:FROC: Big Bag embankment in Rangsit to complete tomorrow; situation in Northern BKK would be ease./via@tucky_nt

FROC: Water has now reached Ratchayothin and Ratchavipa Rd/via@tucky_nt

RT @Aim_NT Pipe water still meets intl standard but pls think of public interest and do not destroy the dykes: FROC Tongthong/via@tucky_nt

Now we have both public buses and public boats in service in flood affected areas: FROC Tongthong. 9.20pm/via@aim_NT

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Happy 50th anniversary to USAID! Still doing great work in Thailand. Today, they are working on Thai flood relief./via@KristieKenney

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FROC Evening Press Briefing November 3, 2011

UPDATE : 3 November 2011

The spokesperson of the Flood Relief Operations Center held his evening press briefing at 9:10 P.M. this evening. Tongthong Chandransu said northern runoff has lessened as shown at the Chulalongkorn flood gate which is also seeing less water.

He revealed that Nakorn Sawan Province is organizing a big cleaning day on November 5.

As for flood barriers between Pathum Thani and Bangkok where officials are stacking thousands of “big bags” weighing more than two tons each together with more than 600,000 sandbags is almost complete. The Transport Ministry is over seeing the project with cooperation from the Army and the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration. Work is expected to be completed tomorrow.

With the flood barrier up, officials expect less water to flow into the city. Existing flood water in the Lak Si, Lad Prao, and Bangkhen areas will be drained into the Prem Prachakorn Canal.

On the situation where many communities are taking down flood barriers in frustration, local authorities have been assigned to come to an understanding with local residents. Irrigation specialists will also be sent to explain the circumstances and the necessity of having the barriers in place. Metropolitan police will also send forces to guard flood gates and barriers throughout the city.

Tongthong revealed that the Waterworks Authority has successfully fixed flood barriers along the Klong Prapa. The Bangkhen water treatment facility is close to producing its normal capacity. Aside from this, Swiss experts have been brought in to approve the quality of the tap water being distributed to the public.

FROC revealed that Sri Tanya Hospital and the Bangkae Nursing home have successfully evacuated most patients to facilities in other provinces. Patients who require special care still remain at both facilities in Bangkok, but have been moved to higher ground.

-- Tan Network 2011-11-03

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Thailand Live Friday 4 Nov 2011

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